Date:29/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/29/stories/2007062955921800.htm

Sport - Hockey

Abdul Samad, a dream story

K. Keerthivasan

— Photo: M. Vedhan

Abdul Samad.

CHENNAI: Hockey player Abdul Samad was born with a disability — he can neither speak nor hear. Any other parent would have given in to despair.

Abdul Farooq was different. A State player himself, Farooq took his son Samad, then 11 years old, along to the BHEL Sports Complex in Bhopal so that he could learn the basics of the game. Samad was a good learner and now is the second choice goalkeeper for the senior Bhopal team.

Splendid show

In the St. Joseph’s-TNHA junior National men’s championship being held here, Bhopal failed to qualify for the second stage but Samad made a definite impression with some splendid saves against Services and SAI under the bar.

Says A.K. Bansal, a selector, “He is good at this level. He has the capacity to grow.” Bhopal coach Ovez Sher Khan says he concentrates hard and is quite quick in his movements.

Samad’s rise has proved that disability cannot deny talent its due. His enterprise and enthusiasm were rewarded. In a major turnaround in his career, Samad played for Bhopal in the sub-junior National championship in Bangalore in 2001-02. Two years ago, SAI recognised his talent and took him into its fold.

“I just concentrate on the ball,” Samad says through sign language interpreted by team captain Nadeem Baig.

There are indications that he might be among the India Youth under-18 probables. For Samad, an Ashish Balal fan, representing India is not a dream, it is just a progression.